Apparatus for engaging articles moving on a rotating turret



Sept. 25, 1956 R, T, ADAMS ETAL 2,764,237

APPARATUS FOR ENGAGING ARTICLES MOVING ON A ROTATING TURRET Original Fileu Jan. 11. 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet l I fA/VENTORS R. r ADAMS J. A. W4 NER A rrop/v y Sept. 25, l95b R. T. ADAMS ET AL 2,764,237

APPARATUS FOR ENGAGING ARTICLES MOVING ON A ROTATING TURRET Original Filea Jan. 11, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

/NVENTOR$ R. r ADAMS J A. w c/vm ATTORNEY p 25, 1956 R. T. ADAMS ETAL APPARATUS FOR ENGAGING ARTICLES MOVING ON A ROTATING TURRET Original Filea Jan. 11, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet .5

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INVENTORS R. 7? ADAMS J. A. W GNER Sept. 25, 1956 1-, ADAMS ETAL 2,764,237

APPARATUS FOR ENGAGING ARTICLES MOVING ON A ROTATING TURRET Original Filed. Jan. 11, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I O 3 420 4 9 II 33 C4 433 332 357 I I v I E 355 I 3937998 I/ 3 82 I 3552 I m"$m I I 3 F" I T n 354 I T 394 397 3 2 42 52 353 9 9 35/ 349 329 I20 FIG. 8

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. g INVENTORS Fla 9 R. T. ADAMS J. A. W GNER 4 Tr0R/VEY Se t. 25, 1956 R. T. ADAMS ETAL 2,764,237

APPARATUS FOR ENGAGING ARTICLES MOVING ON A ROTATING TURRET Original Filea Jan. 11. 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fla. /0 2/9 m/ws/vrons R. T. ADAMS J. A. WAGNER A fi'OR/VEY Sept. 25, 1956 ADAMS ETAL 2,764,237

. APPARATUS FOR ENGAGING ARTICLES MOVING ON A ROTATING TURRET Original Fileu Jan. 11, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 NOR Dob)

INVENTORS R. 7: ADAMS J A. WA N67? 2/ Q A TTORNEV United States Patent APPARATUSzFORi ENGAGING ARTICLES MOVING ON A. RQIFATING. 'EURRET Robert T; Adams, Short, Hills, N. 3., andJuiiuS A-. tag ner, Chicago Heights, 111;, assignors. to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New-York Claims. (11. 164-48) This invention relates to article engaging apparatus and particularly to. apparatus for engaging and cutting th coverings on braided cordage to facilitate forming multiconductor, double-ended cords fromthe cordage.

This: application is a: division of our copending application Serial- No. 730,512, filed February 24%,. 1947 as a continuation of our application Serial No, 572,414, filed Januaryv 11,. 1945, now abandoned. Application Serial No. 730, 5 1,2 has matured into Patent 2,613,427.

In the telephone and? like; industries, large numbers of multiconductor cords. are used for interconnecting cooperating pieces of electrical apparatus. In the manufacture of thesecords, it has been foundEdesirahle tobraida continuous covering over a. plurality 0t? individually: in.- sulated conductors; and at. measured intervals. along the resulting cord-age.- to form loops in; the; conductors which extend through; the braided covering; This. operation is performed: in. the braiding of thecordagc and, when the cordageis. formed in this manner, it is. not necessary to strip oif the braided covering in forming short. double ended cords. By severing the: braided covering, the lengths. of individually insulated conductors which have been thrown out. or pulled; through the: braid may have terminal members attached to them and: may bev trimmed to the desired lengths.

It, is. anobject, of. the present invention tiQ-PEOYidB: novel and. eflicientarticle engaging apparatus;

Another object of fihe-inV6 11tiQmiS-i0 provide new and improved apparatus: for engaging and cutting they cover-- ings on braided. cordage to facilitate fiorming multiconductor, double-ended cords from the; cord-age.

In accordance with one: embodiment? ofthe. invention, cordagewhich has had the conductors loopedor thrown out at intervals through its braided covering is fed from a suitable supply thereofi to an article severing apparatus, which includes; a pedestal on which a; series, ofcordage positioningplates; are carried in: a. circular path to present the; plates sequentially to a mechanism for cutting the braided. covering at the, point where the loops of individuall-y insulated conductors are thrown out of; the covering. The apparatus, also; may be provided with, means for positioning the freed loops. of the conductors to receive stay bands, S-hooks, and terminals, and for checking the positions of the. conductors; Means also may be provided; to;- apply stay bands, Shocks, and: terminals. to

the conductors and to sever the conductors at points.- adjacent to the applied terminals.

A complete. understanding of the invention may be had byreference tothe followingdetailed description, when considered in. conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of an apparatusembodying the invention;

Fig; 2 is av perspective view of alength of cordage "ice insulated, conductors thrown out of the cordage at spaced. intervals;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, taken through the appar ratus at a point just below the cordagerpositionihg plates;

Fig, 4 is avertical section takenv substantially along line 4-4 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 5 is. a fragmentar horizontal: section taken. substantially along line 5+5'of. Fig, 4;

Fig, 6fis a vertical section taken: substantially alongline. 6--6'. of Fig. 1;

Fig- Ti a fragmen ary vertical section. taken, substanr tial'ly along line 77' of Fig 6.;

Fig. 8- is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along, line 8& of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially alo g line 9.9 Qf: g- 8;.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view on an enlarged scale. looking down, at thev top, of, the, cordager-positioning plate With a: length of cordage. mounted in it prior to, the ope a ion of the.braidrcuttingmechanism on: the cordage, one, of the conductors. being cut away;

Fig, 11 is, a tragmentary' vertical section taken along line. l111 of Fig. l0. and. showing the. arrangement, ot the various parts. of the cordagerpositioning; plate with respect to. the cordage prior to the cutting, of the braided. covering;

Fig, 12 a. fragmentary side, view ofi thebraid-severing knife, shown, in Fig; L1;

Fig. 1,3. is. a circuit diagram of the, electrical and fluid circuits which control the operationof the apparatus and Fig. 1.4 is a. detail view ofthe adjoining ends of, twocords, to. which stay bands, Shocks and; terminals: have. beenattached. in the apparatus.

The apparatus oh the, preferred embodiment of the in ventionis designed.to-processcordage (:Fig. 2), which comprises three separately insulated conductors '16, 77 and 78ihaving a common braidedicovering; 7:9 thereon, as shown most clearly in, Figs. 6 and 1-0, The braided covering 79= encloses. the hr e. individually ins la ed conductors throughout most of the length of the cord-age, but the three insulated conductors '76, 77 and 78 extend out through the braided covering 79 at predetermined intersupplied. to the machine and showing the, individually Y vals-,. which: intervals determine the length. of the cords tobeformed. The amount that the individual-i conductors 76, '77? and 78 are: drawn through the braid, in the process of applying the braidon the conductors, will determine the length of the conductors extending out at the ends. oi the braided cords after the braided covering has been severed.- at the point where the conductors extend from it and after the conductors have each been cut.

The braided cordage is fed to the mechanism for cutting the braided covering at the point where the conductorscxtend from it. by a feeding mechanism, designated generally by the numeral 80 (Fig. 1 This feeding mechanism operates in timed relation to theremainder of the apparatus, and the cordage, as it is fed to the rest of the processing mechanism, may be positioned on one of a plurality of cordage-positioning plates 81 there being six cotd'age-positioning plates provided inthe apparatus. These plates are suitably supported, as willflbe described hereinafter, to travel in a circular path, which will carry themto a braid-severing station 82-, a tucking and inspection station 33, a punch press station 84, and an unloadingstation 85; 7

At the feeding mechanism 80; the cordage will be fed onto a suitable platform 86, from which an operator-may remove a section of cordage and place it on a cordagepositioning plate 81', moving past the feeding mechanism, with the cordage 80- positioned that the loops of individuall y insulated conductors 76, '77 and 78 extending out from it will be located in a predetermined position on the plate, as will be described morein: detail hereinafter. The

plate 81, in the operation of the apparatus, will be carried around to the braid-severing station 82, where the braided covering 79 will be cut at the point at which the conductors 76, 77 and 78 extend through it. In travelling in its circular path, the plate will next arrive at' the tucking and inspection station 83 and, in travelling to this station, the severed ends of the braid 79 will be moved apart slightly so that when the cordage-positioning plate 81 arrives at the tucking and inspection station, a mechanism may be brought into operation to tuck the surplus portions of the individual conductors down through the plate 81 and locate the individual conductors in proper position to receive terminals 90 to each of the conductors 76, 77 and 78, and also to inspect the cordage to determine whether the individual conductors are properly positioned on the positioning plate.

Each of the individual conductors 76, 77 and 78 has two terminals 90 (Fig. 14) attached to it in the punch press station 84. Thereafter, in the same operation, each of the conductors 76, 77 and 78 has a section cut from it in the position between the formed terminals 90. The terminals 90 are fed to the punch press mechanism in strip form, and all of the terminals in the strip are interconnected. In the punch press mechanism, however, the mechanism provided, in addition to attaching the terminals 90 to the conductors 76, 77 and 78, also cuts the terminal apart so that when the cordage-positioning plates 81 move out of the punch press, the terminals will be separated one from another and will be attached to their respective conductors. At the punch press station 84, S-hooks 93 partially formed and interconnected in a strip are cut from their strip and attached to the cordage to form a supporting means. Similarly, stay bands 94 interconnected in a strip and partially formed are fed into the punch press, cut from their strip and attached to the cordage 75. The S-hooks 93 and stay bands 94 serve to support the cords in position in electrical apparatus without applying tension to the individual conductors and, in addition, serve to prevent unravelling of the braided covering 79 from the cords. After the operations on the cordage 75 have been performed at the punch press station, the plates 81 will move up out of the punch press station to the unloading station 85, where the completed cords may be stripped from the plates.

The driving mechanism The main driving mechanism for the apparatus comprises, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, a motor 96 (Figs. 1 and 4) mounted upon the upper end of a housing assembly 97. The housing assembly 97 comprises a main supporting base 98 (Fig. 4) for supporting a main base casting 99. Suitably supported on the main base casting 99 is a tubular bearing member 100, which extends up through the center of the apparatus and has an annular support ring 101 positioned at its upper surface for carrying an annular motor supporting casing 102. The motor 96 is carried by the casing 102 in position to direct its drive shaft 103 vertically downwardly. The drive shaft 103 is coupled to a main shaft 104 by a suitable coupling member 105, which is, in turn, suitably journalled within the tubular bearing member 100.

Fixed to the lower end of the main shaft 104 is a beveled pinion 106, which, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, meshes with a beveled pinion 107 attached to a stud shaft 108 which is, in turn, suitably supported on the main base casting 99. The shaft 108 carries at its outer end a pinion 109 meshing with a pinion 110 on a Worm shaft 111, which is also suitably supported on the main base casting 99. The worm shaft 111 carries a worm 112 in mesh with a worm gear 113 (Figs. 3 and 4). The worm gear 113 is disposed in a horizontal plane and is fixed to a short shaft 114. The shaft 114 is journalled in suitable bearings 115 and 116 mounted upon a cylindrical casing member 117, which is supported by the main base casting 99. At its upper end, the shaft 114 carries a pinion 118 in mesh with a ring gear 119 fixed to the underside of a dial supporting casting 120. The dial supporting casting 120 encircles the tubular bearing member 100, and is rotatable about lower and upper bearing sleeves 121 and 122, being carried between a wall of bearing member 100 and a suitable thrust bearing assembly 123, which is positioned between a shoulder 124 on the bearing member 100 and a cooperating shoulder 125 formed on the casting 120. The casting 120 is of irregular configuration and serves to support the cordage-positioning plates 81 in their rotation around the apparatus.

The ring gear 119, in addition to meshing with the pinion 118, also meshes with a pinion forming a part of the drive for the cordage-feeding mechanism 80. The coradge-feeding mechanism 80 is disclosed and claimed specifically in our copending application Serial No. 730,513, filed February 24, 1947, as a division of the aforementioned application Serial No. 572,414. Application Serial No. 730,513 has matured into Patent 2,613,426.

Cordage-positioning plates The cordage-positioning plates 81, six in number, are all of exactly the same construction and serve to support the cordage 75 in position to have the braid 79 thereon cut at the point where the conductors extend through the braid. Each plate 81 also serves to properly position the cordage and individual conductors at the tucking and inspection station 83 and at the punch press station 84. In order to present the cordage to the various operating stations of the apparatus, the plates 81 move in a circular path about the axis of the main shaft 104.

Since, as pointed out hereinbefore, each of the cordagepositioning plates 81 is of the same construction, only one cordage-positioning plate will be described in detail. The cordage-positioning plate 81 comprises a framework including side members 210 and 211 (Fig. 10). The side member 210 has a pair of dovetail slots 214 and 215 formed in it adjacent its outer and inner ends, which cooperate with corresponding dovetail slots 216 and 217, formed on the side member 211 by cooperating surfaces on the side member 211 and retainer plates 218 and 219 suitably attached to the side member 211. Positioned to slide in the cooperating dovetail slots 214 and 216 is a slidable clamp-supporting plate 220, and similarly positioned to slide in the cooperating dovetail slots 215 and 217 is a second slidable clamp-supporting plate 221. The clampsupporting plate 220 carries a main fixed clamp member 222 and a main movable clamp member 223. Similarly,- the clamp-supporting plate 221 carries a main fixed clamp member 224 and a main movable clamp member 225. The main movable clamping members 223 and 225 are slidably mounted with respect to the main fixed clamping members 222 and 224, respectively, but will move with the slidable clamp-supporting plates 220 and 221 when the clamp-supporting plates move in their associated ways on the side members 210 and 211 of the positioning plate 81. Extending downwardly from the clamp-supporting plates 220 and 221 are a pair of stud shafts 228 and 229 (Fig. 6), on which are freely rotatable a pair of cam rollers 230 and 231. The cam rollers 230 and 231 cooperate with a second pair of cam rollers 232 and 233 in shifting the clamp-supporting plates 220 and 221 inwardly and outwardly on their dovetail slots 214 and 216, and 215 and 217.

The construction of the clamping mechanism and the operation thereof are described fully in the aforementioned Patent 2,613,426, to which reference is made for details thereof.

In addition to the operating parts of the cordage-positioning plate 81, a pair of clips 316 and 317 (Fig. 1) are provided at the side of each member 210 to retain the cordage along the side of the plate. In addition to these clips, the cordage extends between a pair of pins 318 and 319, in the manner illustrated most clearly in Fig. 1. If it is found necessary, additional retaining pins 997 and 998 may be provided on the cordage-positioning plate be- In addition to the collar 395, the shank 394 has a switch actuating cam 400 attached to it for actuating a switch 401 when the plunger is released by the latch 384 and moved to the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The switch 401, in cooperation with a switch 402, controls the flow of current to a reversing valve mechanism 403 (Fig. 13). The reversing valve mechanism .403 may be of any suitable type which, when its solenoid 404 is deenergized, will supply fluid under pressure through a pipe 405 to the upper end of a cylinder 406, and which, when energized, will reverse the fluid flow and direct fluid under pressure through the pipe 407 to the lower end of the cylinder 406. The switch 401 is a normally open type switch, which is spring-urged to its open position, and the switch 402 is of the type which will remain in either its open or closed position. Thus the switch 401 is provided with one actuator 408, whereas the switch 402 is provided with one actuator 409 and a reset button 410, which resets the switch to its normally open position. Prior to the arrival of the carriage 334 at the position shown in Fig. 8, the camming finger 381, in moving past the switch 402, will engage and actuate the switch actuator 409, thus to close the circuit through the switch 402 and, when the carriage 334 arrives in the position shown in Fig. 8, the switch actuator 408 will complete the circuit to the solenoid 404 by closing the switch 401, the switch 402 having been previously moved to its closed position.

When the switch 401 closes, as just described, fluid will be admitted to the lower end of the cylinder 406 (Fig. 6) to drive a piston rod 411 upwardly. The piston rod 411 carries a collar 412 on which there is formed a camming projection 413 adapted to cooperate with a cam 414 fixed to a shaft 415 journalled in the bracket 388. The shaft 415 (Fig. 9) also carries a plunger retracting member 416, which is mounted in a slot 417 in the bracket 388 and which normally carries its upper end in a notch 418 in the plunger 386. The shaft 415 also has a pin 419 (Fig. 8) fixed to it, to which one end of a contractile spring 420 is attached. The opposite end of the spring 420 is fixed to a pin 421 attached to aside wall of a knife housing 422. The springv 420 normally tends to hold the plunger retracting member 416 against the straight edge of the notch 418, as shown inFig. 9, but will permit the retracting member 416 to be positively moved away from the notch 418 when the piston rod 411 moves upwardly. At this time, of course, the plunger 386 is in its inward or latching position, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and thus this movement of the cam 414, the shaft 415 and the plunger retracting mem- 411 serves to actuate a braid-cutting knife, designated generally by the numeral 423 (Figs. 6 and 7), and also serves to actuate a bell crank lever 424. The bell crank lever 424 is pivotally mounted on a stud shaft 425 secured to the underside of a top member 426 of the knife housing 422. Threaded into one arm of the bell crank lever 424 is a set screw 427, which may be locked in an adjusted position with respect to the bell crank lever by means of a lock nut 428, and which is adapted, when the bell crank lever is rocked about the shaft 425, to engage the reset button 410 of the switch 402 to reset the switch. Mounted on another arm of the bell crank lever 424 is a cam roller 429, which is positioned in the path of movement of a cam 430 suitably mounted upon the piston rod 411. The bell crank lever 424 is normally held in its inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 8, whereit bears against a pin 431, by a contractile spring 432 attached to the bell crank lever and to a pin 433 mounted on the knife housing 422.

The knife 423 (Figs. 6, 7, 11 and 12), which is designed to be raised by the piston rod 411 and to cut the braided covering 79 on the cordage 75, is positioned in alignment with a central aperture 434 in a die bar 312 positioned between the clamp-supporting plates 220 and 221 on the cordage-positioning plate 81. In its upward movement the knife 423 passes through aligned apertures in the cam-supporting plate 370 and the top member 426 of the knife housing 422. The knife 423 is tapered and comprises a rounded tip 435 (Figs. 11 and 12) forming the apex of the knife. The tip 435 is designed to enter between the threads forming the braided covering 79 on the cordage 75 without damaging the separately insulated conductors 76, 77 and 78. The tip 435 also will serve, if necessary, to separate the conductors which, due to the fact that they are looped at the place where they extend from the cordage 75, will align themselves in such manner that a pair of blades 436 and 437 may cut the braided covering 79 without, however, damaging the insulation on the separately insulated conductors. The blade members 436 and 437 extend from the point where their cutting edges coincide with the tapered surface of the knife adjacent to the tip, to a point where a rounded head 438 joins the upper reduced end of the piston rod 411.

The two blades 436 and 437 are held between a retainer plate 439 (Figs, 11 and 12) and the body 440 of the knife, by means of flat head screws 441 which hold the plate on the body of the knife. The retainer member 439 is tapered at the upper end to engage a dovetail notch 443 formed in the body 440 of the knife, thus to retain the blades in the proper position where they extend only slightly beyond the body of the knife portion and the retainer plate. When fluid is admitted to the lower end of the cylinder 406 and the knife 423 is carried up through the cordage 75, the braided covering 79 will be cut at the point where the individual conductors 76, 77 and 78 extend out from it. Then the cordage may be arranged to have terminals attached to the individual conductors and to have the ends of the braided covering 79 enclosed in suitable retaining members in the form of a stay band on one end and an S-hook on the other end of the cords.

The just described operation of cutting the braided covering 79 comp-rises the first step in preparing the cords for the reception of the S-hooks, stay bands and terminals. The plate 81 carrying the cordage on which the braid has been severed at the point where the individual conductors extend from the cordage is next carried to the inspection and cutting station 83. As the piston rod 411 reaches the upper end of its travel, the cam 430 carried thereby will engage the cam roller 429 to rock the bell crank lever 424 about the shaft 425. As the bell crank lever 424 rocks about the shaft 425, the set screw 427 carried thereby will engage and actuate the reset button 410 of the switch 402, thus breaking the circuit to the solenoid 404 (Fig. 13). The reversing valve mechanism 403, no longer being held in its operated position, will return to its normal position and fluid will be supplied to the upper end of the cylinder 406 to cause the piston rod 411 to be retracted to the position shown in Fig. 6. In moving downwardly, the piston rod 411 will carry the camming projection 413 into engagement with the cam 414, thus to rock the shaft 415 counterclockwise. When the shaft 415 rocks counterclockwise, the plunger retracting member 416 will withdraw the plunger 386 from a socket 442, which it had entered after it was released by its latch 384. As soon as the plunger 386 is withdrawn from the socket 442, the carriage 334 will be released and the door check mechanism 360 will return the carriage 334 to position where the latch 346 will engage in the latching notch 343 and the carriage will be carried forward by the dial-supporting casting 120.

As the cordage-positioning plate 81 travels from the braid-severing station 82, the various parts of the cordagepositioning plate will be in the condition shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and prior to the latching of the plate 81 in the tucking and inspection station 83, the main clamping jaws and the auxiliary clamping jaws must be moved apart so be formed are fed into the punch press. 90 are applied to the ends of the conductors 76, 77 and that the tucking and inspection ot theseurdage may take place. It should be noted at this time that while the m-ain 'co'rdage-positioning plate 81, at which -time the auxiliary clamping jaws will move apart. This m oving apart of the auxiliary clamping jaws occurs between the "braidseve'rin g stat-ion 82-and the tucking and inspeetion s'tation 83.

Tucking'and inspection station When the cordage-positioning plate -81 moves into the tucking and inspection station '83, the auxiliary clamping jaws'266, 267, 270 and 271 will be in such position as to permit the individual conductors'76, '77 'and'78 't'obe readily tucked down through the corda'ge positioning plate 81.

.At the tucking and inspect-ion station, 'the loops in the individual conductors are tucked out of the way, and the positions of the conductors are inspected in the manner described fully in the aforementioned application Serial No. 730,512. The purpose of this tucking operation is to place the portions of the individually insulated conductors '76, 77 and 78 which will not be operated upon in the punch .press station in suchtpositions that they will be out of the way of the operating parts of the punch ,press.

The inspection operation insures the proper positioning of the conductors before they reach the punch .press station.

Punch press station At the punch press station 384 of the apparatus, there is provided a suitable punch press, designated generally by the numeral 701 (Fig. 1). As illustrated generally in that figure, the punch press .is provided with a driving motor 702, and, through a driving element 704, which may be either a chain drive or belt drive, the 'motor'702 imparts power to the punch press. The punch press motor 702 may be supplied with power from a suitable power source including the power lines 690, 706 and '707 '(Fig. 13). Suitable control means are provided at the punch press station 84 to .be operated by .the cordageposition ing plate '81 in moving into the punch press station to cause the operation of the punohpress. This mechanism may be a duplicate of that shown in connection with the braid-cutting station.

The punch press located at the punch .press station, the

elements of the general apparatus associated therewith,

and the operation thereof are described in detail in the aforementioned application Serial No. 730,512 and some of the elements thereof are described and claimed in H-ackbarth Patent 2,592,276, granted April 8, 1952. It sufirces to say that strips of the terminals 91, strips of the S-hooks 92 and strips from which stay bands 95 may The terminals 78 and the S-hooks 93 and stay band-s94 are applied to the ends of the braided covering 79. At the same time,

the unneeded ends of the conductors areseveredat points adjacent to the terminals 9-1. The ends=o f finisheii'cords are as shown in Fig. 14.

Operation It is believed "that a complete understanding of :the invention may be had from the following brief 1 description of the mode of operation of the apparatus:

In the operation of the apparatus,.a supply-iofcord-age '75, having been threaded into the feeding mechanism '80, and supplies of strips-of terminals 91, stripsof sahooks 92, and a stay band strip 95 having been placed in "the punohspres's 701, ithe apparatus will' be-inconfiition for operation, it being assumed that the various \t'ocil adjnse ments have been-made to lace the shearing and Eformin'g tools in :the punch press in position rte perform the'irmperations effectively. After the apparatus has thus tbeen supplied with the materials used in its ioperation, the lippara'tus'may be s'tarted.

ln order to insure-that the punch press will function properly at all times that cordage -positioning plates are imposition therein to have the :eordage held thereby equipped with shooks, stay bandsand termi'nal m'ei'rfibers, the punch press motor 702=mut bes'tartetlfirst by olosing the start switch 709 (Fig. 13). Momen-ta-ry =tilosure ot the "switch 7-09 Will connect power from the line 5690 10 one side of thew-inding "71 0-of're'lay708 and through a normally closed stop switch 712 back to the line 706. 'Power will thus be supplied to energize the relay 708, causing it to close its contacts. As "soon as relay 708 oloses its cont-acts, power will be supplied tronrthe lin'es 707, 690 and 706 to leads 991, 992 and 993 extending from the relay 708 to the motor 7 02. As soon as the relay 708 p'u'lls up, it will look operated over its locking contacts 711. p

flihe Ipunch press motor "-702 having been put in operation, the main :dr'iv-ing motor 96 may -be started "by momentarily closing a --star t switch 99 1. The closure of start switch 99% will connect lead 992, now connected to the power source, to one side of the winding 995 of relay 692. The other side of the winding 995 is connected to :lead 993 through a normally closed stop switch 99.6 and thus, when the punch press motor 702 "is supplied with power, a :oircuit may be completed to initiate the operation 0f the main driving motor 96. When relay 692 pulls :up, it will lock operated over its contacti6'91 and through the normally closed switches 652 and 7651 %back to line 690. {in this manner, motor 96 will continue :to he supplied with power until stop switch 712, stop switch 996, 1 either of switches 651 or-"652 is operated. W g 7 As the apparatus starts in operation, due' to the fact 'that motor 96 is supplying power to the "-m'ain "shaft tliti t (Pig. 8), power for driving the feeding mechanism 3 0 will be transmitted from "the shaft 1'04 and interconnected gear its drive shafts 1-08, Ji l and 11%, thus to supply power to drive the ring gear 11-9. As the ring gear 1 19 rotates, it will carry :thedial-supporting-casing"120 with it around 'thetubula'r bearingmember 100 '(Fig.4 As the ring gear 11 9-'rotates, it will, 'th'rough pinion 1 3 5, transmit power to the feed mechanismetl by means of which cordage will be fed onto the platform' 86, tr-om which the operator ma'y remove a lengthof-eordage'equal to the distance between the places on the 'cerdage where conductors are looped thr'ough the braid- 79.

An operator positioned adjacent *to the feeding mechanism $80 will place the cordage on the adjacent mov- 'ing-:cerdag'e-positioning plate 81, aligning the-cordage in such a manner that the conductor '78 will be extending between the auxiliary "movable clamping members 266 and 0.67, the conductor 76 will be extendin'g between the auxiliary tfixed clamping members 270 and 527-1 and the conductor 77 will :be extending vertically upwardly at the juncture of the clamping members, as yiewed in Figs. 10 and 11. As the bondage-positioning plate (81 arrives at the feeding mechanism 80, a completedasord having been removed ,from itiafterit left the ;punch {press station, it will :have its cam rollers 23-1, 232 and .233 moved .to their innermost positions .by the eams 379 and 380, thus to move the clamp-supporting plates .220-tand 221 as .near to the die bar "312 as they .can :be moved. When the clamp-supporting plates 220 and .221 :are .at their closest position, the main clamping members 222, 223, 224 and '225'"will b e as closely adjacent as possible and in position to receive a length of cordage '75.

Just as the cordage-positioning plate 81 enters the position where corda'ge may be placed on ,it, 'the cam 377 will become eifec't'ive to push the cam "rol'lers 232 and 233 apart slightlyand at the same time the cams 376 and'378 will prevent the clamp-supporting plates 220 and 221 from moving apart. In this manner, the plates 220 and 221, being held against movement longitudinally of the cordage-positioning plate 81, the cam rollers 232 and 233, in being moved apart slightly, will cause the main movable clamping members 223 and 225 to move toward the main fixed clamping members 222 and 224 and will carry the auxiliary movable clamping members 266 and 267 toward the auxiliary fixed clamping members 270 and 271. Thereafter, when a length of cordage is placed between the clamping jaws, it will remain in the position in which it is placed, although it is not tightly clamped by the clamping members. After the operator has properly located the cordage 75 so that the'loops of conductors 76 and 78 are positioned as just described hereinbefore, the operator may wrap the cordage 75 as shown in Fig. 1 with the cordage carried by the clips 316 and 317, and held by the pins 318, 319, 997, 998 and 999.

As the cordage-positioning plate 81, on which a. length of cordage has been positioned, continues to travel, the cams 232 and 233 will be moved farther apart by the cam 377 as the cordage-positioning plate 81 enters the braid-severing station 82, as seen most clearly in Fig. 3. When the cam rollers 232 and 233 move apart under the action of cam 377 at the braid-severing station 82, the cam rollers 230 and 231 will be held against movement longitudinally of the cordage-positioning plate by earns 376 and 378. Thus, the main movable clamp ing members 223 and 225 and the auxiliary movable clamping members 266 and 267 will be moved toward their associated fixed clamping members. Accordingly, the main clamping members 222, 223, 224, and 225 will tightly grip the cordage 75 between them, and the auxiliary clamping members 266, 267, 270 and 271 will lightly engage the cordage. The cordage as thus positioned will extend over the die bar 312.

As the cordage-positioning plate 81 enters the braidsevering station 82, camming finger 381 on the carriage 334 will engage the trip finger 383 to release the plunger 386. The plunger 386 will move forward onto the surface of the bracket 382 at approximately the same time that the cam roller 357 rolls up the surface of operating cam 358 (Fig. 8) to withdraw spring-pressed latch 346 from latching notch 348. The carriage 334 will thus continue to move with the dial-supporting casting 120 until the plunger 386 is in registry with the socket 442, at which time the latch 346 will be retracted from the notch 348, the plunger 386 dropping into the socket 442 will hold the carriage 334 stationary for a short time in the braid-severing station 82.

The plunger 386, in moving into the socket 442, will, through the cam 400, close the switch 401. Since the switch 402 had previously been closed by the engagement of camming finger 381 with actuator 409, power will be supplied to energize the solenoid 404 over a circuit (Fig. 13) from the line 706 through the solenoid 404 and the switches 401 and 402, back to the line 690. When the solenoid 404 is energized, the reversing valve mechanism 403 will be operated and fluid under pressure will be supplied to the lower end of the cylinder 406. When fluid under pressure is supplied to the lower end of thecylinder 406, the piston rod 411 (Fig. will be moved upwardly to carry the braid-cutting knife 423 up through the die bar 312. When the knife 423 moves upwardly through the die bar 312, its rounded tip 435, as shown most clearly in Fig. 11, will engage the braided covering 79 on the cordage 75 at the point where the looped conductors 76, 77 and 78 extend out from the cordage. The rounded tip 435 of the knife 423 will enter between the servings of the braided covering 79 and will push the conductors 76, 77 and 78 out of its path. As the knife 423 continues to move upwardly, its blade members 436 and 437 will cut the braided 12 covering 79 without damaging the insulation on the conductors 76, 77 and 78.

In moving upwardly, the piston rod 411 rocks the shaft 415 clockwise (Figs. 6 and 9) due to the engagement of the camming projection 413 with the cam 414. This operation of the shaft 415 effects no useful purpose. However, as the piston rod 4111 continues to move upwardly, the cam 430 will engage the cam roller 429 and will rock the bell crank lever 424 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 8, thereby to operate the reset button 410 of the switch 402. This breaks the circuit to the solenoid 404 and permits the reversing valve 403 to return to it's normal position, where it will direct fluid under pressure to the upper end of the cylinder 406.

Fluid under pressure being supplied to the upper end of the cylinder 406, the piston rod 411 will be moved downwardly and, in moving downwardly, the camming projection 413 will again engage and actuate the cam 414 to rock the shaft 415 counterclockwise (Figs. 6 and 9). When the shaft 415 is rocked counterclockwise, the plunger retracting member 416 will be rocked counterclockwise to retract the plunger 386 and move it to its inoperative position, thus opening the switch 401 and restoring the braid-severing mechanism to normal position. When the plunger 386 is retracted, it will release the carriage 334 and, thereupon, the door check mechanism 360 will be effective to return the carriage 334 to its normal position with respect to the dial-supporting casting 128. At the time that the door check mechanism 360 becomes effective, the cam roller 357 will move off of the cam 358. When the door check mechanism returns the carriage 334 to normal position, the latch 346 will lock the carriage to the casting 120, in position to be carried around. to the tucking and inspection station 83.

As the carriage 334 continues to move around the tubular bearing member 100, it will carry the cordagepositioning plate 81 into the tucking and inspection station 83. In travelling from the braid-severing station to the tucking and inspection station 83, the clamp-supporting plates 220 and 221 are moved apart by the cam 377 (Fig. 3) acting on rollers 232 and 233 and pushing the rollers apant. This movement is possible because the clam tracks 376 and 378 terminate short of this position. In this manner, the grip of the main clamping members 222, 223, 224 and 225 on the cordage is not released since the plates are pushed apart only by the action. of the cam rollers 232 and 233. In thus moving apart, the plates 220 and 221 will cause the various clamping members to move to positions where the conductors 76, 77 and 78 are separated into loops and the portions of the cordage with the braided covering 79 thereon are in position to have S-hooks and stay bands attached to them in the punch press station 84 after t' e loops in the conductors 76, 77 and 78 have been tucked down through the cordage-positioning plate.

The cordage-positioning plate 81 and the carriage 334 next enter the tucking and inspection station 93. In the station 83, the individual conductors 76, 77 and 78 are positioned for the receipt of terminal members in the punch press station 84, and the positions of the conductors are checked. If the conductors are positioned properly, the operation proceeds, but if the conductors are not properly aligned, the main drive motor of the ap paratus is stopped by a control circuit associated with the inspection elements. After the conductors '76, 77 and 78 have been tucked down through the cordage-positioning plate 81 and inspected at the tucking and inspection station 83, the carriage 334 carrying the plate 81 will move into the punch press station 84. At the punch press station, the terminals, S-hooks and stay bands will be applied, and the ends of the conductors will be severed.

The cordage-positioning plate 81 then will be moved out of the punch press station 84 to a position where the cam rollers 230, 231, 232 and 233 will engage the cams aromas? 379 and 380 (Fig. 3). The camrollers za-oandasz will engage the cam 389 and will be spread apart by'the fo'rward end of this cam. Similarly, the ca'in rollers 231 and 233 will engage the cam 379 and will be spread apart by the forward end of this cam, thus to open the sets of clamping jaws on the Cordage-positioning plate 8-1 sufiici'ently to permit the removal of a completed cord therefrom. As the carriage 334 carries the cordag'e-pos'itioning pla-te' l into association with the feeding mechanism '80, the clamp-supporting plates 220 and 221 will be moved toward each other by the action of the cam rollers 232 and 233011 the cams 389 and 37 9, respectively, to prepare the cordage-positioning -p'la te to "receive a new length of cordage. At the unloading station -'85, through which the carriage 334 will he moved at the time whenthe just-described operations takeplace, any suitable means may be provided for taking the completed cords from the cordage-positioning plate 81, or the cords may be removed by an operator.

While the previous description of operation of the apparatus has related primarily to a single corda ge-fpositioni'ng plate "5 1, it will be understood that si-x of the plates "81 and their associated carriages 334 are provided in the apparatus. While an operator i's loadi'n'g the corw age 75 onto one of the plates 81, there will be a plate '81 at'the braid severin'g station 82, o'ne'a't the' tuckin'g and inspection station '83, one "at the punch press station 84, one at the unloading station 85 andone at an idle position between the braid sc'v'e'rin'g station '82 and the tucking and inspection station 83.

What is claimed is:

1. 'Severing apparatus for use in maliing electrical cords rrom continuous co-rda'ge including a plurality of conductors with a continuous covering thereover having the conductors thrown in loo'ps through and 'out of the covering at spaced points along the-Cordage, which comprises a turret rotatahle about a predetermined axis, rnea'ns for continuously rotating the turret in a predetermined direction, a carrier mounted slidably' on -the turret for carrying a portion of such cordage, r'neans for urging the carrier toward a predetermined position dn the turret, a cutter positioned adjacent to a predete'nninerl point in a path'along which thecordage is carriedby the carrier, means for temporarily holding the carrier sta'- tionary adjacentto the cutter, means for rnovi'n'g the-eutter into and out of engagement with the 'co'rdagepn the temporarily held "carrier, electromagnet'c "nie'a'ns for actuating the cutter r'nov-ing means, said electromagnetic means serving when energized to actuate'the cuttermoving'means to move the cutter into engagement with the 'cord'age and when deener'gized to actuate the cuttermoving means to move the mechanism ourorengagement "with the corda'g'e, "a cont'rol'switch in serieswith the elec tromag'ne'tic means, means carried by the turret for closing the control switch as the carrier approaehes the cutter, and means for releasing the carrier-holding means :at the completion of the cutting operation whereupon 'the carrier urging in'eans returns the carrier to its pre- "determined position on the turret.

2. severing apparatus for use in making "electrical cords from continuous cordage including a plurality of 'c'onductors'with a continuous covering thereoverand hav- 'ing the-conductors thrown in loops through and outi-of 'the'covering at spaced points along the corda'ge, which comprises a turret rotatable about a predetermined axis,

means'for continuously rotating the turret in a predetermined direction, a carrier mounted slidably on the turret for carrying a portion of such cordage, means for urging the carrier toward apredetermined position on the turret,

areciprocable cutter located'acljacent to aipredetermined E position'in alpath along which the -cordage is'carried'by the carrier, means responsive to movement of the turret for-temporarily holding the carrier stationary at the'cut'ter p'osition,'meansfor rnoving the cutter into and'outo'f eir gagement'with the corda'ge 0n the temporarily he'ld carrie'r, electromagnetic means for actuating the cnttefl mowing means, :seid electromagnetic means serving when energized to actuate :the cutter-moving means to move the cutter into engagement with the icordage and when deen'ergized 1e actuate the cutter-moving means 'to move the cutter 'out of engagement with the cordage, a switch for energizing the electromagnetic means, a reset switch in series with the electromagnetic means, means carried by the turret for closing the energizing switch as the carrier approaches the cutter position, means operable by 'thecuttor for opening the reset switch to cause the cutter to return \to its norrn-al ';position, and means 'for releasing .the carrienholding means at the completion of the cutting operation whereupon the carrier-urging means returns the carrierto its predetermined position on the turret.

3. Severing =apparatus'for=use in'making electric cords from continuous c'o'rdage including a plurality of *conductors having va continuous covering thereover z-and having the conductors thereof extending out of the covering at spaced :points along the cord'ag'e, which comprises la turret rotatable about a predetermined axisymeans :for continuously rotating the turret in predetermined :direction, -a carrier mounted slidably on the turret forearm;- ing a portion of such cordage, means for urging the carrier towa'rda rpreilet'ermined :positionon the turret, means for -gripping such cordage at opposite sides phone of such .portion's, an elongated cutter having a blunt end :and knives projecting from thesides thereof,-said cutter-being positioned adjacent to a predete'rmine'd .point in a path along which the -cordage is carried 'by the-carrier, means or *temporarily holding the carrier stationary adjacent *to the cutter, :pneurna'ti'c inean's 'for moving the cutter 'into and out of engagement with the :gripped cordage on the temporarily held carrier to sever the COV61'iIJg,.T6l6CtI'0'- magnetic rnean's for controlling the pneumatic "Jcuttermoving means, said electromagnetic means serving when energized'to actuate the cutter moving means to 'move the cutter into engagement with the cordage and when deenergized-to aictuate the cuttenmoving means7to-move the cutterout-of engagementwith the 'cordage, switch means associrttedwwith=theielectromagnetic means toenergize and d'eenergize rsaid electromagnetic means, means carriedzby 'the turret :for closing .the switch as -'the carrier approaches the cutter, means actuated by movement of the cutter for subsequently opening the :switch, and means for irele'as'ing thecarrier-holding means at the 'completion'of the cutting operation whereupon the carrier-urging zmeans returns -the 'carrier 10 :its predetermined position on the turret.

-'4. Seve'ringapparatusforuse in making electrical-cords from continuous cordage including a plurality .of con- .ductors with-a continuous covering thereover and having ,the conductors-thrown through and extending out of the covering atspaced points along the'cordage, which com- ;5 :prises a 'base, a turret rotatably mounted on the base, means for-rotatingthe turret, a carrier slidably mounted on the turret upon which-may be-positioned a portion of the cordage where the conductors extend out of the-covering, means-for normally retaining the carrier fixed -to the :turret forrotation therewith, means at one position on .the'base in-the path of travel of the carrier for successively rendering said carrier-retaining means inoperative as the carrier reaches said position, means onsaid base at said position for temporarily stopping movement of the "carrier while the turret continues to move, means at 'sai'dpositi'on operative when the carrier reaches that position'aiid'is stationary'for cutting the covering on the cordage at'the point where the conductors extend therefrom, means actuated by the cutter means 'for'rel'easing thecarrier-stoppingmeans at the completion of 'the'c'ut- "t g operation, and meansfor returning the carrier to it's norrnal'fixed position on the turret upon the release of said carrier-stopping means.

5. S'e'verin'gapparatus for-use in making electrical cords 37'5 rrzrm c'dhtir'iu'ous cord ag'e inc-luding =a plurality (if 6011- ductors with a continuous covering thereover and having the conductors thrown through and extending out of the covering at spaced points along the cordage, which comprises a base, a turret rotatably mounted on the base, means for rotating the turret, a carrier slidably mounted on the turret upon which may be positioned a portion of the cordage where the conductors extend out of the covering, means for normally retaining the carrier fixed to the turret at a predetermined position thereon for rotation therewith, door check-type means on the turret for urging the carrier toward said predetermined position on the turret, means at one position on the base in the path of travel of the carrier for successively rendering said carrierretaining means inoperative as the carrier reaches said position, means on said base at said position for temporarily stopping movement of the carrier while the turret continues to move, means at said position operative when the carrier reaches that position and is stationary for cutting the covering on the cordage at the point where the conductors extend therefrom, and means actuated by the cutter means for releasing the carrier-stopping means at the completion of the cutting operation whereupon the door check-type means returns the carrier to its normal predetermined position on the turret.

6. In apparatus for making electrical cords from con tinuous cordage including a plurality of conductors with a continuous covering thereover and having the conductors thrown through and extending out of the covering at spaced points along the cordage, said apparatus having a base, a turret rotatably mounted on the base and means for rotating the turret, the improvement which comprises a plurality of carriers slidably mounted on the turret upon which the successive portions of the cordage where the conductors extend out of the covering may be positioned, means for normally retaining the carriers fixed to the turret at predetermined positions thereon for rotation therewith, yieldable means for urging the carriers toward said positions on the turret, means on the base at one position in the path of travel of the carriers for rendering said carrier-retaining means inoperative and for temporarily stopping movement of the successive carriers while the turret continues to move, means at said position for cutting the covering on the cordage at the point where the conductors extend therefrom while the carriers are stationary, means actuated by the cutter means for releasing the carriers at the completion of the cutting operation and for returning the carriers to their initial positions on the turret, and means on said base controlled by movement of the turret for actuating the cutting means as the carriers are successively stopped therea-t.

7. In apparatus for making electrical cords from continuous cordage including a plurality of conductors with a continuous covering thereover and having the conductors thrown through and extending out of the covering at spaced points along the cordage, the improvement which comprises a base, a turret rotatably mounted on the base, means for rotating the turret, a carrier slidably mounted on the turret upon which may be positioned a portion of the cordage where the conductors extend out of the covering, means for normally retaining the carrier fixed to the turret for rotation therewith, means at one position on the base in the path of travel of the carrier for successively rendering said carrier-retaining means inoperative as the carrier reaches said position, means on said base at said position for temporarily stopping movement of the carrier while the turret continues to move, means at said position operative when the carrier reaches that position and is stationary for successively engaging and disengaging the cordage at the point where the conductors extend therefrom, means actuated by said cordageengaging and disengaging means when said means disengages the cordage for releasing the carrier-stopping means, and means for returning the carrier to its normal 16 fixed position on the turret upon the release of the carrierstopping means.

8. In apparatus for making electrical cords from continuous cordage including a plurality of conductors with a continuous covering thereover and having the conductors thrown through and extending out of the covering at spaced points along the cordage, the improvement which comprises a base, a turret rotatably mounted on the base, means for rotating the turret, a carrier slidably mounted on the turret upon which may be positioned a portion of the cordage where the conductors extend out of the covering, means for normally retaining the carrier fixed to the turret at a predetermined position thereon for rotation therewith, door check-type means on the turret for urging the carrier toward said predetermined position on the turret, means at one position on the base in the path of travel of the carrier for successively rendering said carrier-retaining means inoperative as the carrier reaches said position, means on said base at said position for temporarily stopping movement of the carrier while the turret continues to move, means at said position operative when the carrier reaches that position and is stationary for successively engaging and disengaging the cordage, and means actuated by the cordageengaging and disengaging means when said means disengages the cordage for releasing the carrier-stopping means whereupon the door check-type means returns the carrier to its normal predetermined position on the turret.

9. In apparatus for making electrical cords from continuous cordage including a plurality of conductors with a continuous covering thereover and having the conductors thrown through and extending out of the covering at spaced points along the cordage, said apparatus having a base, a turret rotatably mounted on the base and means for rotating the turret, the improvement which comprises a plurality of carriers slidably mounted on the turret upon which the successive portions of the cordage where the conductors extend out of the covering may be positioned, means for normally retaining the carriers fixed to the turret at predetermined positions thereon for rotation therewith, yieldable means for urging the carriers toward said positions on the turret, means on the base at one position in the path of travel of the carriers for rendering said carrier-retaining means inoperative and for temporarily stopping movement of the successive carriers while the turret continues to move, means at said position for successively engaging and disengaging the cordage while the carriers are stationary, means on said base controlled by movement of the turret for actuating the cordage-engaging and disengaging means as the carriers are successively stopped thereat, and means actuated by the cordage-engaging and disengaging means when said means disengages the cordage for releasing the carriers whereupon said yieldable means returns the carriers to their predetermined fixed positions on the turret.

10. In apparatus for making electrical cords from continuous cordage including a plurality of conductors with a continuous covering thereover and having the conductors thrown in loops through and out of the covering at spaced points along the cordage, the improvement which comprises a turret rotatable about a predetermined axis, means for continuously rotating the turret in a predetermined direction, a carrier mounted slidably on the turret for carrying a portion of such cordage, means for normally retaining the carrier fixed to the turret for positive rotation therewith, a cordage-engaging and disengaging mechanism positioned adjacent to a predetermined point in a path along which the cordage is carried by the carrier, means for temporarily releasing the carrier from the turret and for holding the carrier stationary adjacent to the cordage-engaging and disengaging mechanism, pneumatic means for moving said mechanism into and out of engagement with the cordage on the stationary carrier, electromagnetic means for controlling the pneumatic PPPQS; Ql l99trornagnetic means serving when energized to cause the cordage-engaging and disengaging mechanism to move into engagement with the cordage and when deenergized to cause said mechanism to move out of engagement with the cordage, a switch in series with the electromagnetic means, means carried by the turret for closing the switch as the carrier approaches the cordage-engaging and disengaging mechanism, means operable by the cordage-engaging and disengaging mechanism after said mechanism has moved into engagement with the cordage for subsequently opening the switch to deenergize the electromagnetic means, means for releasing the carrier-holding means when the cordageengaging and disengaging mechanism disengages the cordage, and means for returning the carrier to its normal fixed position on the turret upon the release of said carrier-holding means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Harraday May 30, 1854 Wood Jan. 25, 1910 Raus et a1. Oct. 18, 1927 Fagan et al. Apr. 9, 1929 Poole Dec. 15, 1931 Smith Oct. 18, 1932 Steele Sept. 5, 1933 Boriski July 20, 1937 Schermerhorn Ian. 31, 1939 Michel Feb. 27, 1940 Adams et a1 Oct. 14, 1952 

